Some Impressive
Religio-Social Traditions in the Philippines
Introduction:
Catholics in the Latin Rite or those
belonging to the Western Churches, Greek Orthodox, or even those whose rites are
slightly dissimilar with the Roman Catholic Church like the St. Thomas
Christians-Syro-Malabar Catholic Church,[i]
Ukrainian Catholics, Coptic Catholics and Chaldeans Catholics and so on, who
believe in Apostolic successions and further recognized the Bishop of Rome, or
the Pope as the direct line of successor of St. Peter, observed deeply rooted
traditions since the birth of their respective churches. Though maybe in rituals
and traditions they seemingly vary from each other; nevertheless they knew
their origins can be traced back during the time when the first apostles or
preachers first reached them and founded their church. For instance, the St. Thomas Christians-Syro-Malabar
Catholic Church claims according to traditions that it was St. Thomas the
Apostle who evangelized and founded their church. Malabar is located in the
western coast of India fronting the Arabian Sea-Indian Ocean.
Christmas
Season’s Simbang Gabi Traditions:
Talking on traditions, one common yet a
rare tradition observed by the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines is
Christmas Season’s “Simbang Gabi” or Dawn Masses or “Mesa de Gallo” commencing
every 16th day of December until Christmas Day on midnight of
December 24. It is a tradition long observed by our forebears and even
continuously gaining momentum today because of the shroud of commercialism.[ii]
As soon as the “ber months” appear in the Gregorian calendar; malls, radio and
television networks would open the season by playing Christmas songs Christmas
though it is indeed too early. For sure, they are doing this consistently each
year because of their desire to have bigger sales. They would start decorating
their work areas or rightly the malls with decors and icons of Christmas so people
may note the coming atmosphere of Christmas in the air; and by that they may
entice people to shop earlier.
Despite informally we have the longest
Christmas Season in the world; the Roman Catholic Church however officially celebrates
its prelude with the celebration of Advent Season in deep preparation and
reflection of the coming of Christmas. Advent starts on a Sunday after the
Feast of Christ the King, which too consistently falls on a Sunday and
continues until the fourth Sunday before December 25.[iii]
Christmas Day continues until the Feast of the Epiphany; however the latter is
not always fixed on January 6, as we commonly have known it before.
The “simbang gabi” tradition is not
elsewhere, not even in Rome, but only here in the Philippines; and we are proud
of this. Perhaps some countries under Hispanic influence are likewise celebrating
similarly, but it may be as splendid as ours. However, we are not certain what
countries are they.
From
Aparri to Jolo, for nine consecutive days people would flock to the church as
early as 3:00 dawn just only to have a seat; and what indeed a sacrifice for
those who do not intend to miss the nine-day novena mass before Christmas.
Moreover, even in
places outside the Philippines whenever Filipinos congregate, expect that
Christmas celebration in that particular place would be jovial because they are
the makers of merriment; and they would not allow Christmas to pass without any
significance in their lives. In some parishes abroad, Filipinos are the ones
who usually seat on the choir’s bench for the liturgical songs. Liturgical
songs are universal just as most of the Christmas songs are. Seemingly, we are
the salt of the world, or rightly perhaps just a pinch of it.
Few Noted Traditions during the Holy Week:
Roman Catholic Metropolitan
Cathedrals, town’s parish churches and remote barangay or sitio chapels have
similar liturgical celebration during Lent. There is no difference because the
focus of the celebration is on the Resurrection of Christ, the Doctrine of
Salvation.
There is some
difference in the mode or style in celebration during Lent observed by some
people in particular area, which indeed may not be observed by other areas. The
difference is not certainly in liturgical readings and rites, but on how people
celebrate Lent in their respective places.
a.
In
Metro Manila Area, the “Pabasa”[iv].
The first time I came to Manila in
the 1970’s not on a leisurely trip, but for work, I noticed that in Vitas Area,
the Foreshore land; our construction work area, every barangay in that place
had a “Pabasa” starting on Holy Thursday and it ended on Easter Sunday.
This exercise of piety in the marathon
reading and chanting of the Passion of Christ did not happen alone in Vitas
Area, but it as well was happening in the District of Tondo and in most areas
of Metro Manila. I asked our Chief Timekeeper who indeed was a native of Kagitingan,
Tondo [probably a descendant of Lakandula] when this “Pabasa” started, he just
answered me saying “long, long time ago before even my great, great
grandparents were born.” Such tradition could be traced back during Spanish
colonial time.
b.
Pampanga
Area, the “Penitensya” or the
Penitent.
Though this Good
Friday ritual is a bit extreme and extra-ordinary, perhaps scary for others,
still this religio-social rite or activity draws attention and attraction to
people living nearby Mexico, Pampanga area, and even for some vacationers or
tourists.
The rite starts
with the procession of penitents, who would whip their bare backs with leather
thongs, or chords. The whips have some sharp objects at the end of the thongs
or chords, so a slight exertion of force through whipping may open their back’s
flesh and blood would ooze as they march piously along the streets begging mercy
from God for their sins.
“Penitensya” is
highlighted by the nailing of one penitent to the cross. Construction or common
nails are hammered on the penitent’s spread-eagle hands. The cross with the
penitent hanging thereat would stand for some few minutes, portraying the
Crucifixion of Christ over 2,000 years ago. Despite, this act is deemed by
Health authorities as extremely dangerous as it would resort to death of the
penitent due to exhaustion, dehydration or infection of the nail wounds, the
Penitensya today continues to be one of the spectacles in Lenten Season.
Church’s view on
this extra-ordinary act of piety in Pampanga is neither permissive nor
supportive because the Church believes the best way to ask God’s Mercy is
through an honest, sincere and humble prayer. What the penitents did or would
do again is just an extreme expression of a strong belief that their sins would
be forgiven through the way they used to do during Lent.
Regardless of their
belief, “Penitensya” would still gain prominence so long as there would be spectators
of this weird exercise of piety. TV networks had done their job well and they
will always do repeatedly each year since the news on this item is and would
always a bigger one to the public.
c.
Processions
on Good Friday.
The solemn
procession on Good Friday depicts the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus Christ. It
is the “Santo Entierro” or Holy Sepulchre, where Christ is laid; and it is the
centrepiece though usually it is at the tail-end of the procession.[v]
c.1. Similarly, all Catholic churches
have their processions immediately after the completion of the ceremony of the Veneration
of the Cross or after the death of Christ at 3:00 in the afternoon. But for Lipa City in Batangas, the procession
of the “Santo Entierro” is done silently in the midnight of Good Friday.
c.2. For a small town like Balingasag with 30 barangays in
Northern Mindanao, the solemn burial procession like most of the processions
during Good Friday is after the Death of Christ, or after the ceremony of the
Veneration of the Cross, which would take place right immediately after the
Seven Words finish.
Long before the
Parish of Our Lady of the Perpetual Help of Baliwagan, a progressive barangay
of Balingasag became a chaplaincy in late 1970’s, Good Friday’s procession in
our town used to be longer than today. Certainly, the faithful from Baliwagan
and nearby barangays under its parochial jurisdiction now, used to join the
procession in Poblacion, Balingasag.
There are no other
images of saints during the procession, except the Images depicting the
Sorrowful Mysteries like the Image of Christ at the Garden of Gethsemane;
Scourging at the Pillar; Crowning with Thorns; the Carrying of the Cross;
Crucifixion; Pieta where His Mother cradles the lifeless body of Christ; the
Virgin of Sorrows-Dolorosa; and the “Santo Entierro” or Holy Sepulchre.
Except for the
“Santo Entierro” which is actually on a cart or “carusa”, all the Images on
procession are carried on the shoulders of the faithful devotees. Every “santo”
or Image has at least eight bearers. The first four bearers would be relieved
at an agreed distance and the rotation shall keep on until it reaches the
church. Not everyone could just be bearers because this group or gang are the
exclusive bearers; and it only extinguishes when is no longer capable of doing
it anymore, for reasons of illness or death. Nevertheless, his son, or brother
or his close friend would take his place and the succession would go on that
way. It is just handing down such privilege to carry the Image on one’s
shoulder to someone closest to him.
The “Santo Entierro”
is owned by the Parish Church; however, all the other Images on Good Friday’s
procession are owned by some of the big clans of Balingasag.[vi]
Moreover, another
blooming penitential devotion in Balingasag is the Station of the Cross route southwards
to Barangay Waterfall, from there to Barangay Cogon via the shoulder lane of
the national highway; and heads home to the church via the old national
highway.
Despite, the
procession or “via cruces” is in early dawn at 4:00 while the sun is still
hidden in the East, it would be an agonizing journey for the devotees, because
they have to walk barefoot. Everyone on that “via cruces” walks that way; and
if there are joiners who are not on foot, they maybe are the old ones.
This “penitent
devotion” started in 2001 and it was the former Parish Priest who initiated the
devotion of the Way of the Cross.[vii]
c.3. In the island Province of Marinduque, they have a festivity
during the Holy Week called the Moriones
Festival. It depicts the story of the conversion of Longinus, a Roman
centurion at the foot of the cross during the crucifixion of Christ in Calvary.
Participants or the penitents are attired as
Roman foot soldiers belonging to an undistinguished Legion; armed with spears,
shields, with deadly Roman short swords, clad in armours and Morion-style helmets
fashioned in the 16th and 17th century. In the capital
town of Boac and the rest of the four towns of the islands, the festivity is
celebrated pompously. There are big stone or concrete effigies of Roman
soldiers where the celebration is held.
c.4. In Northern Mindanao in the island of Camiguin, the “Panaad” celebration draws attraction to
people not only from Camiguin, and nearby towns of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon
and Agusan, but probably all over the country because in clearer sense the
place is considered as a tourist destination.
The “Panaad” is a pilgrimage
around the island with a total distance of more or less 64 kilometers on paved
road, of course with steep ascends and descends. Pilgrims on board a boat from
the ports of Balingoan or Cagayan de Oro City may either start walking when
they arrived at the port of Benoni or start later on in Mambajao, the capital
town. Usually, the pilgrimage starts on early Maundy Thursday morning until one
could reach one’s starting point either on Good Friday, Black Saturday or on
Easter Sunday.
Pilgrims would
visit all the churches of parishes, including chapels along the national
highway; and on waiting shades, under big trees and along beaches, pilgrims nap
for a while to ease out all the aches and continue later on as soon as they are
invigorated again.
In recent times in
late 1980’s the “Panaad” has no significant identity yet as a “Panaad”, as it
is now known. It was merely a pilgrimage every Holy Week made by a handful of native
“Camiguinons” who migrated to Cagayan de Oro, or in the mainland either
permanently due to their marriage, or for reasons of works or business. The old
format is similar with what nowadays pilgrims do, walk the long 64-kilometer
road, which at that time was yet unpaved.[viii]
The “Panaad” gain
prominence because of media beautiful intervention. A local radio station in
Cagayan de Oro whose network is nationwide covered the Panaad in early 2000’s
when Camiguin has its first big and faster ferry operating between Cagayan de
Oro-Camiguin-Balingoan owned by Philstone Shipping, ML Yuhom. Mass media
boosted the religio activity in Camiguin, until government agency DOT [tourism]
came to the front. This religious activity becomes popular as the registration
sheets of that agency are concerned each year. Of course, the Provincical
Government acts as the overseer of all support activities such as for Medical
Assistance and Police Security.
Though how big the
“Panaad” today insofar as attendance of pilgrims, older folks from Camiguin say
that the “baklay libot sa isla sa
Camiguin” or “Walk around Camiguin Island” is an old tradition; their
ancestors told them this. It does not happen during Holy Week only, but anytime
when their ancestors humbly asked Divine Providence for favors, atonement of
sins and thanksgiving. Their parents handed down the practice to their children
and so on. That is why “Camiguinons” or native residents of Camiguin in a
“Panaad” have different ways of fulfilling their “panaad” – they travel [walk]
the island either clock-wise or counter-clockwise when they arrived in port, or
they have distinctive ways in which church or chapel they may first enter
because they are retracing the routes their ancestors were doing many, many
years ago.
Those who migrated
in the mainland earlier due to the eruption of the Karaang Vulcan or the Bonbon
Volcano in 1871 [first recorded eruption in Camiguin] would have even paddled
from the coast of Misamis [Misamis Oriental] just only to fulfil the “panaad”
they had.
Furthermore,
traditions as well say, people of the island used to celebrate the “panaad” on
August 15 to 16 during the Feast of San Roque, the Patron of Catarman and not
during the Holy Week.[ix]
People on the south-eastern part of the island, those facing the mainland
Misamis Oriental would travel to Catarman for the fiesta. Perhaps due to
scarcity of transport in the old days than it is now, people from Guinsiliban,
Mahinog and Mambajao would walk from their residence to Catarman for the fiesta
and to fulfil their “panaad” or religious promise through pilgrimage. What
makes today’s “Panaad” celebration coinciding with the Holy Week; they say, it
is due to the construction of the Walkway towards the summit.[x]
Another worth considering
probability states that the “panaad” in the olden times evolved as a form of
sacrifice or expression of piety voluntarily initiated by the people themselves
and not even through the urging of the church in great petition to God to
spare them or their island against the
havoc of the ferocity of the volcanoes. Written records reveal that the first
ever-recorded eruption was in 1871, when the Karaang Vulcan sa Bonbon released its fury burying the nearby
cemetery beneath the sea and devastating the stone church with its ruins visible
even today on site.
It is probable that
the “panaad” or pilgrimage around the Island started sometimes after the
eruption in 1871, but we could not discount the possibility that it may have
even started earlier because we do not know when the earliest unrecorded
volcano eruption took place in the island. What is certain Camiguin, or to be
specific Catarman for that matter was evangelized as early as 1620’s by the
OAR-Recollects. So who knows between 1620’s to 1871 if there were already “panaad
pilgrims” in the lonely roads of Camiguin exercising such piety.
In this time of
modernity, one added penitence or an attraction maybe is the Way of the Cross
at Barangay Bonbon. It is a Station of the Cross which is more than a
hundred-step upwards through the winding steep uphill of the Karaang Vulcan.
The concrete stairway or walkway made by the Local Governments of Camiguin in
early 2000’s could accommodate as many as ten persons at a time initially. However,
as it goes higher, the route or path becomes narrower and the best way is to be
prudent and cautious, so it would be always good to negotiate the path singly since
it is dangerous to lose one’s balance or hold, the precipice is too steep.
Younger pilgrims
are usually the climbers of this walk-way as it is a strenuous climb. If one
would be nearly on top of the Karaang Vulcan or on the established summit of
the Walkway, one could have an eagle-eye view on a clearer day few Visayan
Islands – Bohol, Siquijor and Leyte. [xi]
The “walkway” in
Bonbon is the converging point of all pilgrims because nearby it is the Sunken
Cemetery caused by the first recorded
volcanic eruption and the ruins of the stone church, which traditions say that
such was the old church of today’s town of Catarman in Barangay Bonbon.
Whenever there is convergence
of people, business could be absolutely good. So, various booths for t-shirts
and other souvenir items; sari-sari stores; food vendors; balloons;
refreshments; and so on are there. In fact even after the Panaad season,
souvenir booths still operate thereat because of tourism.
Camiguin is just a
small island seemingly as big as Marinduque, for both have 5 municipalities
each and that make them somehow likely similar. In common, they have rich traditions
yet differing only in the manner how they used to observe or celebrate the Holy
Week.
c.5. Procession of Images of Saints in Baliuag, Bulacan.
It is one splendid
spectacle not only in that region - Central Luzon areas, but perhaps all over
the country because of its uniqueness. Although processions during Good Friday
are usually highlighted with alluring Images of Christ, the Virgin of Sorrows
and other Saints, this procession in Baliuag is done with an array of more than
a hundred Images of Saints, moving in precision along the town streets,
originating and ending at St. Agustin of Hippo Parish Church.
The procession
winds up along the streets of Baliuag, creates some sort of traffic interruptions
because traffic has to be re-routed just for this big religious event. The procession
is long, vehicles [floats] carrying the Images of Saints and people joining the
procession crowded the streets; and they are trudging each step inch after inch
on their way to the church. Like in Balingasag, the Images of Saints in Baliuag
on grand procession are owned by families or clans. Even district or barangay
chapels have their devotional saints on the procession, too; and all
carrier-vehicles are superbly decorated and lighted. There are beautiful arches
on strategic places made by the residents as signs of great welcome and deeper
involvement or commitment to the olden tradition.[xii]
Though the
carrier-vehicles travel slowly because of electric and cable lines
crisscrossing the town streets, there are expert pole bearers clearing the
hanging lines for the vehicles to pass safely.
This Good Friday’s
procession draws attraction to the faithful; even tourists came to join, be as
witnesses and as prayerful as the others during the procession. Many just would
come to watch along the streets; however there are still many who are on the
procession for mercy and atonement.
d. Flores de Mayo – The Santa Cruzan.
Every month of May,
children – school age including the nursery kids should they wish to come,
always would go to the church every afternoon on the first day of the month
until the 31st day to offer flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary; and
Filipinos call this devout devotion of children as the “Flores de Mayo”.
Although it does
not happen all over the areas where there is Flores de Mayo, some places
particularly in the Tagalog-speaking areas and in the Eastern Visayas, Santa
Cruzan is usually celebrated regularly at the end of Flores de Mayo. It depicts
in one way or the other the natural grace, decency and nobility of women. There
are lovely princesses with their gentlemen escorts in Filipiniana attire. Other
personalities projected in the affair are the “Reyna Elena”, “Constantino”, “Beatriz”,
“Imperatrix” and so on.
The Santa Cruzan is
somehow now considered as a social affair, but its roots could be tracked back
in religious beginnings because according to tradition it portrays the finding
of the Holy Cross, where Christ was crucified by Queen Helena or “Elena” the
mother of Emperor Constantine in the 4th century.
Despite there are
no factual evidences confirming such discovery as the Roman Church failed to
produce evidences on such claim, the Church however has designated September 14
each year as the Feast of the Holy Cross.[xiii]
Since May 3 is traditionally observed as the feast day of the Holy Cross - Santa
Cruz, people used to celebrate their devotional feast on this day. The Church
has not deterred the faithful from celebrating their traditional feast day for
it may delineate them from their devotions; nevertheless, the Church has
clearly decreed and therefore it is part of the Church calendar, or “Ordo”[xiv]
that September 14 is indeed the Feast of the Veneration of the Holy Cross.
As a consequence, a
place may have two fiestas, the one in May and the other in September; and it
would be a big headache for the fiesta goers when to come, for normally people
would celebrate one feast only either following the old traditions or the one
in September. One feast is apt to observe considering economic constraints.
Reflections:
If we go deeper into it why do people have
these kinds of religiosity, or piety, then perhaps we would begin to slowly ask
ourselves. Could it be not that because when they became rational and duly disposed
such religio-cultural activity has been there already; and compulsorily they
would just follow or accept it in order not to break the chain of tradition since
their ancestors had practiced it devoutly, and why would they not?
Maybe for one reason, we could consider
that out of respect and memory of their departed ones, the piety or traditions
their ancestors once exercised while they were still living are carried or continued
on by their descendants. Our religion believes in the Resurrection of the Body
and Communion of Saints that is why we pray for our dead, just as we pray for
those who are already in glory with God. We likewise pray for those who are
still suffering, who later on could be united with God; and for those who are
already triumphant so they may pray for us who in this world are militantly
striving to do well to attain salvation.
Respect to one’s
parents is not only a value among Filipinos, or by any other nationalities;
nonetheless, it is God’s one commandment to Honor thy Father and Mother.
Keeping their memory ever fresh not only during All Souls Day is a nice thing,
and retracing or emulating them in their exercise of piety is not bad as well.
So, carrying arduously on one’s shoulder
platforms of an Image of Saints in long processions; and travelling on foot
longer kilometers to reach sacred places or shrines is in line with the concept
of pilgrimage or “perigrinatio religiosa
pro Christo”and doing any of these and other forms of non-extreme exercise
of piety is not bad as it may enable one to reflect and be closer to God.
Forgiveness of sins is always there, should one fervently and sincerely ask for
forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and doing extra ordinary
penance in the way he best considers, one could gain indulgences too.
Moreover, the
church discourages extreme exercise of piety like lashing oneself as some
ascetics and monks oddly had done it as form of penitence for atonement of sins
in the olden times. Spreading eagle-like on a cross, nailed and hung are too
much of a sacrifice for it may endanger
the well-being of the penitent, the
church has given the advice. For Christians, the Cross is revered as a symbol of
humanity’s salvation from sin; and one has to revere it with all solemnity.
Forgiveness of sins
is always guaranteed by God, should one ask for forgiveness and be sincerely
sorry of his sins. The Catholic Church teachings say that it is through the
Sacrament of Confession or Reconciliation where sins could be forgiven. Lashing oneself, nailed and hung on the cross
are extreme penitential ways to achieve mercy. It may endanger the penitent’s
both physically and mentally, which the church in her compassionate approach
wishes to avoid.
Other traditions
people observed that turned into as a cultural activity to mention a few, are
the Santa Cruzan and Sinakulo. For all we know, the Santa Cruzan culminates the
month long devotion - Flores de Mayo where children give flower offerings each
day in veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, while the Sinakulo depicts the
Passion of Christ in stage plays. The Santa Cruzan as well as the Sinakulo are
worthwhile entertaining or reflecting activities for people to enrich
themselves spiritually.
NOTES
[i] These Eastern
Catholic Churches like the Byzantine Church, Chaldeans Catholics (a greater
part were converted from the Nestorian), Alexandrian Catholics (Copts),
Abyssinians, Syria Church, Catholic Church of Malabar (India), Armenians, and
Maronites, have rites of their own, but they are aligned with Roman Catholic
Church. They recognized the primacy of the Pope. _ Catholic Encyclopedia,
“Eastern Churches” Internet accessed 2 August 2013, 5:30PM.
[ii] Countries under
the Hispanic Rule may have still Mesa de Gallo till these days. The origin of
this tradition could be tracked back during the time when Spain colonized most
of the territories of the New World – Hispaniola, Haiti and some countries in
mainland South America, including of course the Philippines in the Far East.
(Annotation mine.)
[iii]
The First Sunday of Advent is the beginning of the new ecclesiastical year. The
Feast of Christ the King culminates the year.
[iv] The ”Pabasa” is a Lenten tradition observed by people
in Metro Manila Area, where readings on the Passion of Christ is read by elder
female person in the Barangay through public address system. Christ
[v] It is only in Good Friday that there is no mass;
nevertheless, gospels readings are read and there is Holy Communion given by
the priests and extra-ordinary ministers.
[vi] The Image of Jesus Christ’s Agony in the Garden is
kept by the descendants of Don Jose “Odo” Moreno [thru Purisima Moreno Roa];
Scourging at the Pillar by the descendants of Kapitan Leon Valmores [Dr.
Polygino Valmores]; Crowning with Thorns, descendants of Don Vicente Vega
[Dolores Vega Guibone]; and the Carrying of the Cross, descendants of Don
Faustino Vega [thru Carlitos Salvacion Vega]; Pieta by the descendants of Don
Ramon (Taas) Valmores thru Elvira M. Vega; and the Image of the Virgin of
Sorrows, descendants of Dona Remedios Palma-Gil Magsalay. (Annotation mine.)
[vii] From an interview with Mike Montesclaros, a Church
Worker on November 9, 2014 and he said that it was Fr. Ricardo Dancela, SSJV
Parish Priest of Sta. Rita de Cascia in 2001-2005, who initiated the devotion,
which now is still observed by the faithful. (Annotation mine.)
[viii] To mention a few of that small group of early
pilgrims, they were Victor Cayetuna [Victor Barber Shop - Divisoria], Boy
Tandog, Ethel Mabelin, Virgie Ucab, Manuel Ibañez, and so on. Some are now dead
while those who are still alive continue their “panaad”. (Annotation mine.)
[ix] The Recollect
founded the township and parish of Catarman sometime in 1620’s and its founding
was more or less occurring similarly with the evangelization and founding of
Cagayan de Oro City. Catarman therefore is an old parish in northern Mindanao.
Though it was pioneering in her time, it is however sad that she was not able
to hold such fame because nearby town like Mambajao developed more
progressively than the former. (Annotation mine.)
[x] From an interview with Celso Bagabaldo, a former
resident of Tupsan-Pequeño of Mahinog, Camiguin, who now resides in Balingasag.
He said that during his boyhood days, he remembers walking together with their
neghbors to Catarman during its fiesta. They were not alone; pilgrims from
other places of the northeastern part of the island are likewise on the road heading
towards Catarman. It would take them two days to walk around Camiguin and be at
their homes because they had to attend for the mass and dinner prepared by
their friends. Accordingly, his father’s father used to do the pilgrimage every
year and it had been a part of their forebears’ religious practice. ___
Catarman was founded by Recollect missionaries sometime in the 1620’s and its
founding was more or less similar with the evangelization of Cagayan de Oro
City. Catarman therefore is an old parish; and should the ruins the old church
[xi] On April 1, 1889, a party of Jesuit Explorers under
Fr. Francisco Paulo Sanchez, SJ sailed from Manilda for Cagayan de Oro on board
the boat “Bolinao”. They anchored for a day in Camiguin and one of the
explorers Don for a dayon 5 April to explore for one day. One of the members of
the expedition, Don Jose Quadras with the assistance of local guides climbed
the old volcano – the “Karaang Vulcan” or “Vulcan sa Bonbon”. He collected a
bagful of specimen.___Fr. JS Arcilla, SJ. Jesuit Missionary Letters from
Mindanao, Volume IV The Dapitan-Balingasag Mission.
[xii][xii] From an interview with Bebie Tinoy-Balingit, a Mother
Leader of Barangay Catolin, Baliuag, Bulacan on November 13, 2014 at the Local
Civil Registry Office, Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental. She is from Barangay
Dampil in Lagonglong and presently lives in Catolin. (Annotation mine.)
[xiii] Fr. JS Arcilla, SJ, Jesuit Missionary Letters from
Mindanao, Vol. IV.
[xiv]
The Ordo is not exactly just a church calendar of activities only because it
has there everything aside from the identification of important universal and
local events or feasts the church has. It includes what specific readings are
appropriate for the day; its responsorial readings, the Psalm; and vestments of
priests for that day or season. The Church Liturgical Commision prepares the
“Ordo” for every priest or parish to follow. It is worthwhile to note that the
Roman Catholic is a universal religion; generally all readings no matter what
continent the parish or church belong have to be similar. Nevertheless, there
are some variations or slight modifications because a Church in one continent
or country like the Philippines for instance, has titular and devotional feasts.
So its liturgical readings must conform to what the local church
celebrates. (Annotation mine.)
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410211balingasag,mis.or.philippines
